Does Laser Hair Removal Last Forever?

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular and effective hair removal methods in the world. They work in such a way that the hair follicles are destroyed, which prevents hair from growing. But as with every other hair removal procedure, people are also concerned about the longevity of laser hair treatment, and wonder if it is permanent. 

So, does laser hair removal last forever? No, it doesn’t. But there is no need to be discouraged, as it is the next best thing to permanent hair removal, which is impossible by the way. Depending on some factors, laser hair treatment can last for a long, long time. These factors include hormones, the colors of skin and hair, etc. 

Let’s take a detailed look at how long hair laser hair therapy lasts. 

How Long Does Face Laser Hair Removal Last?

To know the laser hair removal lasting time on your face, or any other body part for that matter, you first have to know how this procedure works. Laser hair treatment works by zapping a particular part of your skin with a laser. This laser targets a specific pigment of the hair. The hair absorbs the laser, and turns it into heat, which travels down the hair to the hair follicle. 

The follicle then disintegrates due to the immense heat. As a result, no hair will be produced from that specific follicle. Once all the hair follicles of that particular area are destroyed, then you can expect the treatment to be over. 

Now, does laser last forever? Well, not in the traditional sense. Sometimes the treated area will never grow any hair, but it is not guaranteed. But what we CAN guarantee is that laser treatment lasts a long time, which can even be years. 

There are a few factors that have a hand in determining how long laser hair removal lasts. These are: 

1. Hormones

The main reason hair grows on body parts is because of hormones such as testosterone. For women who are in their post-menopausal phase, their estrogen levels go down, and testosterone levels increase, causing unwanted hair to pop up. 

So, if you have a higher testosterone level, hair can still grow on your body, even if you have undergone laser hair removal. This can be treated by medication to bring down the testosterone level, or by going through touch-up sessions regularly. This will help last the effects of laser hair removal for a long time.

2. Hair and Skin Color

The contrast of hair and skin color is very important in making laser hair removal last forever, or close to it. Since the laser targets a specific pigment, laser treatment works best on dark hair and light skin. If you have this combination, then the laser treatment will be much more long-lasting than if you have light hair or dark skin. 

For light hair, the laser has a hard time targeting the hair pigments, which makes the treatment a bit less effective. On the other hand, if you have dark skin, the laser will not properly differentiate between the pigments of the hair and that of the skin, causing the skin to burn. This will also make the treatment shorter lasting. 

But at present, laser treatment technology has continued to evolve. So, even if you have slightly lighter hair or a darker skin tone, you can get effective laser hair treatment. 

3. Number of Sessions 

The key to making laser hair removal successful is to attend multiple sessions according to the consultation of your physician. This is because not all the hair on your skin gets destroyed. You see, the hair in your body goes through four phases. Only the hair that is in the anagen, or growing phase, is affected by laser hair treatment, while the other hair is not.   

To ensure all the hair follicles are removed from a particular spot in your skin, you need to go through multiple sessions. In this way, all the hair follicles will be treated by laser treatment as they will be at the anagen phase at some point or other. Once you go through all the required sessions, laser hair treatment will last longer, and might even be permanent. 

How Can You Make Laser Hair Removal Last Longer?

If you want to make laser hair removal last longer, then there are a few steps you need to take. This will help enhance the positive effects of the treatment. These steps are: 

• Letting the hair grow to a minimum of a 1/4th of an inch and refraining from shaving or waxing for 4-6 weeks before an appointment. 

• Not using any abrasive products within a week after the procedure. 

• Using sunscreen every day.

• Not using any skin products at least 24 hours before the appointment. 

Final Words

A very common question we have to face is “Does laser hair removal last forever?”, which is very normal. The longevity of the procedure will largely depend on how you prepare for the treatment, and how you take care of your skin after it. Once you are convinced about laser hair treatment, contact us to book our services. 

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